Rex Unleashes New Tug-of-war At White House

January 11, 1986|By United Press International

WASHINGTON — The new first dog, Rex, made his first public trip aboard the presidential helicopter Friday and proved as able as his much bulkier predecessor Lucky to pull Nancy Reagan across the White House grass.

The King Charles spaniel, at 16 pounds a mere fourth the size of the 70- pound sheepdog Lucky, came out of the White House for the ride to Camp David, Md., yipping wildly and pulling the first lady behind him on a leash.

It was a scene reminiscent of Lucky, who would pull and tug the first lady aboard the helicopter. He was sent to the Reagans' California ranch to live. Mrs. Reagan, joking about the dog's frenzy, told reporters, ''He's talking to you.''

The president pointed at the low-slung dog and said, ''He's a guard dog.''